Fun Facts About Braces

Flaunt that metallic smile! I’m speaking for those who fear that doing so would mean being bullied by others for their weird looking smiles. Knowing that there is so much more than those visible wires that comes in different colors to suit individual style, wearing your braces with confidence should not be a problem. If you knew that even public figures once wore them like Drew Barrymore, Dakota Fanning, Emma Watson, Tom Cruise, Katy Perry, Prince Harry, Justin Bieber, Gwen Stefani, and many others, I’m sure you wouldn’t think twice of having your own set of braces even if you have a very minor problem with your teeth.

Having poorly aligned teeth brings a number of undesirable effects. Not only does it significantly lowers one’s self-esteem, having a smile that projects anything but confidence, may even be a cause for someone to miss out on that desired job position. It may also mean, difficulties speaking in public or, even socializing with others. It’s a good thing that the practice of orthodontics had been around since ancient Egypt. It looks like project perfect smile has been a history-old concern not just for children but even for adults.

Early Orthodontics

Norman Wahl reveals through the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics that teeth irregularities have been evident in the remains of ancient skulls and date back to as early as the time of the Neanderthal man in 50,000 BC. However, it was only about 3000 years ago that the very first written record of man’s work related to correcting crowded teeth surfaced. Back then, only crude orthodontic appliances are used to correct misaligned teeth. For instance, in early Egypt, mummies with crude metal bands wrapped around individual teeth, were discovered.

It was only between 23-79 AD that mechanical treatment were evident, and remained in practice until the 1800s. Civilizations like Greece and Rome report of several instances when treatment of irregular teeth were evident.

From the middle ages to the 18th century, early men experienced a considerable change. By 1580, dentistry is already an acknowledged branch of study in France. The first wax impression done in 1692, and in 1756, the first plaster impression was completed by Phillip Pfaff.

Innovations in the Early 19th Century

By about the 1800s, the use of bite blocks, expansion archs, and chin-ups, crib, lever screw, as well as the clamp band have already been apparent.

Welcoming the 20th Century

With the coming of the 20th century, treatment to oral deformations became more advance. Properties of malocclusion or misalignment, as well as dealing with such concern were met with an even more efficient set of orthodontic appliances.

By the 1900s, winding wires around misaligned choppers, dental adhesives, lingual braces that run along the interior of the teeth were already applied in correcting dental misalignments.

Fun Facts about Braces

Other than these bits of history, are the amusing facts about the braces that we now see and others enjoy flaunting. Below are some of them:

The nickel titanium in most braces wire was originally developed for NASA for use in the space program. These braces wire were designed with shape memory properties (meaning it keeps its shape) that are activated by body heat and/or pressure.

The first braces were designed in 1728 by Pierre Fauchard and consist of a flat piece of metal that is connected to the teeth by pieces of thread. Orthodontic brackets were invented in 1915.

Some cements that are used to attach brackets to misaligned teeth include a fluoride-releasing substance.

Braces are not magnetic and don’t set off metal detectors. Braces don’t pick up radio transmissions as well. Finally, Braces don’t increase the risk of being hit by lightning.

Braces is for the young and old. And as history taught us, it has come a long way just to reach millions who would like that enigmatic smile that you could be proud of. Wouldn’t that be enough reason for you to keep your pearly whites seen more frequently with those braces on?